will you wait 'til it all burns down? || hxh x mha

Katsuki Bakugou 7

Cooking for Gourmet Hunters as the next exam was hardly anything Katsuki anticipated once the gates opened. Many roasted pigs and a failed exam later- or maybe not?

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"You tracked his scent? Oh man, Gon, you really are weird, aren't you?" Killua, the white-haired arrogant brat, remarked after 405 explained that he just followed the trail of Leorio's cologne back. Katsuki couldn't help but acknowledge that it was impressive, albeit incredibly strange. Gon possessed an exceptional sense of smell. Then he could probably pick up the scent of soot and faint traces of nitroglycerin, if nitroglycerin was a known explosive here. If it even existed here.

Before too much time passed, Funky Mustache announced that the second phase would take place in this castle-like location. "Excellent work, everyone. The second phase will take place here, in the Visca Forest Preserve. I shall now take my leave, although I wish you all the best of luck." Visca Forest Preserve? So, the Swinderls Swamp directly connects to the Visca Forest, and there's a preserve. The forest may be included in the second phase. There's no fucking way they'll be testing endurance once more.

"What the hell..." Katsuki muttered as he watched Funky Mustache march right back from where they came from. However, the heavy, rusty-looking metal door opening up behind them proved to be much more exciting than the first examiner disappearing behind some boring trees. What's up with this place and the electronic opening and closing doors?

His eyebrows furrowed further as he noticed the house hidden behind it. It was a nice-looking one. It wasn't conventionally Japanese, nor did it align with any style he was acquainted with. Perhaps eurpopean?... What the hell does it matter? He mentally scolds himself, concentrating on the more significant aspects of whatever the fuck this was.

Two humans. One woman had turquoise hair, a see-through mesh top, and jeans shorts. The other is about three times as large, with bare feet, a short yellow shirt, dark green pants and a huge stomach. The woman was seated in what appeared to be a leather chair, while the giant sat on the floor behind her. They must be the next examiners, and he had a feeling he knew exactly what the next phase was going to be.

The front yard was filled with small cooking facilities. They had a sink, a wooden cutting board on each counter, four types of knives, and a bowl of fresh vegetables. Thank God the vegetation seemed to be similar. They included carrots, tomatoes, onions, eggplants, green bell peppers, and a few others. Each station had a larger grill. So, the next phase must be cooking.

Why?

What the hell was a hunter, for cooking to be part of the exam?!

"Will all the applicants who passed the first phase please enter?" The girl greeted them with a friendly smile. She wore her hair in unusual ponytails. One ponytail straight up, two to the sides, and another two down from her ears. It resembles a star. "Welcome all." Star Girl spoke with evident confidence, causing Katsuki to scowl slightly. She was significantly different from Funky Mustache, leading him to believe that this phase would also be very different from the core.

"I am Menchi, your examiner for the second phase." Star Girl introduced herself. "And likewise, I'm Buhara." The Giant continued, his stomach growling as Bakugou felt his scowl deepen. Todoroki, next to him, wordlessly raised his eyebrows as the other participants began to question what and where the noise came from.

As she turned her head toward the Giant, Menchi smirked. "Sounds to me like you're getting hungry, hm?" So, was this a set-up? Cooking was the next phase, no doubt. "Not just hungry; I'm famished." The bigger examiner exclaimed unhappily.

This whole scene just felt way too comedic to be true. Yeah, no way. He's not buying it.

This was especially evident when Star Girl stood up, her heels clacking on the stone. "Well, there you have it. The second phase will be cooking!" She points her finger at them, and Katsuki's annoyance grew even further when confused murmurs filled the participants. Were they all fucking blind?! They could literally see the countless cooking stations set up in the front yard; it was more than evident!